Lectures

The 2011 lectures in this programme were generally well received by our members. We anticipate that our Nadfas approved speakers will continue to enlighten and entertain us for the rest of the programme.

Wednesday 5th October 2011
Verdi's La Traviata: A Very Italian Affair
Jonathan Hinden

A non–technical and not–too–serious account of this masterpiece, its characters and story with musical illustrations on the piano, and with a brief look at the circumstances and context of its composition. This lecture will last for 75 minutes.

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Wednesday 2rd November 2011
Leonardo Da Vinci at the Court of Milan
Shirley Smith

In 1481 Da Vinci offered his services to the powerful ruler of Milan and he included painting in his list of his skills. He was given the opportunity to paint the Last Supper, the Virgin of the Rocks and stunning portraits of Ludovico's family. This lecture will study how these works pushed the boundaries of art to a new level.

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Wednesday 7th December 2011
The Festival of Britain in 1951 and its Design Legacy
Sally Hoban

The Festival was dedicated to showcasing the very best of new British industry and design. It was described as a riot of “fun, fantasy and colour”. This lecture looks at how and why it had a huge impact on design and people’s perceptions of this.

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Wednesday 1st February 2012
The Art of Deception: Optical Illusion, Camouflage and Trompe L'Oeil
Bertie Pearce

Since Roman times optical illusions have been used in art. Our speaker will explore the mystery of perception through the work of many artists.

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Wednesday 7th March 2012
The Arts of Islam
Rachel Ward

This lecture will introduce us to the distinctive character of art across the Islamic world and the impact of the religion on its forms and decoration.

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Wednesday 4th April 2012
The Colour of Light – Contemporary Stained Glass
Tom Errington

The Arts and Crafts Movement experimented with new techniques for making stained glass. This lecture traces the history of this medium from the end of the 19th Century until the present day through the work of many artists including Marc Chagall and John Piper.

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Wednesday 2nd May 2012
The Great Twelve: An Introduction to the Senior Livery Companies of the City of London
Fenella Billington

Livery Companies originated in medieval times as trade guilds both in this country and on the continent. Today they support various charitable and educational causes. In spite of fires and wars many still have fine Livery Halls with art treasures and contents of great historical value.

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Wednesday 6th June 2012
Photography as Fine Art
Brian Stater

Can the very best photographs be regarded as Fine Art? Our speaker will argue that photography can equal or even exceed more traditional disciplines in portraiture, landscape and still life. These arguments are illustrated with images of the work of some acknowledged masters of photography.

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Wednesday 4th July 2012
Dreamtime to Machine Time: Aboriginal Art and Culture
Rebecca Hossack

Aboriginal art is the oldest continuous artistic tradition in many countries in the world and it has been revitalised in the 20th Century. These art works have been used as documents to prove land ownership in legal disputes. Our lecturer will also talk about her experiences visiting the aboriginal people and inviting them to visit her in London.

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For details of reading lists for these lectures please contact lectures@rlsdfas.org.uk

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